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Friday, November 23, 2007

SATURDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

NOVEMBER 24, 2007MEMORIAL, ST. ANDREW DUNG-LAC, PRIEST & COMPANIONS, MARTYRSSATURDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I

1 MACCABEES 6:1-13As King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces, he heard thatin Persia there was a city called Elymais, famous for its wealth insilver and gold, and that its temple was very rich, containing goldhelmets, breastplates, and weapons left there by Alexander, son ofPhilip, king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks. He wenttherefore and tried to capture and pillage the city. But he could notdo so, because his plan became known to the people of the city whorose up in battle against him. So he retreated and in great dismaywithdrew from there to return to Babylon. While he was in Persia, amessenger brought him news that the armies sent into the land ofJudah had been put to flight; that Lysias had gone at first with astrong army and been driven back by the children of Israel; that theyhad grown strong by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessionstaken from the armies they had destroyed; that they had pulled downthe Abomination which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem; andthat they had surrounded with high walls both the sanctuary, as ithad been before, and his city of Beth-zur. When the king heard thisnews, he was struck with fear and very much shaken. Sick with griefbecause his designs had failed, he took to his bed. There he remainedmany days, overwhelmed with sorrow, for he knew he was going to die.So he called in all his Friends and said to them: "Sleep has departedfrom my eyes, for my heart is sinking with anxiety. I said tomyself: `Into what tribulation have I come, and in what floods ofsorrow am I now! Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.' But I nowrecall the evils I did in Jerusalem, when I carried away all thevessels of gold and silver that were in it, and for no cause gaveorders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed. I know that thisis why these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bittergrief, in a foreign land."

LUKE 20:27-40Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, cameforward and put this question to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrotefor us, If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, hisbrother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but diedchildless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewiseall the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now atthe resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven hadbeen married to her." Jesus said to them, "The children of this agemarry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to thecoming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor aregiven in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels;and they are the children of God because they are the ones who willrise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passageabout the bush, when he called `Lord' the God of Abraham, the God ofIsaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but ofthe living, for to him all are alive." Some of the scribes said inreply, "Teacher, you have answered well." And they no longer dared toask him anything.

REFLECTIONToday's Gospel contains Jesus' own teaching about life after death.The occasion for this teaching was a deliberate attempt by theSadducees to make the idea of life after death look ridiculous. Lifeafter death is not an extension of our existence but somethingtotally new. It is not based on wishful thinking but on the natureof God himself. Everything beyond that remains uncertain. Theresurrected life lies so far beyond our experience that it can bedescribed only in symbols and images.

Jesus assures us: "All are alive for God." The word "all" includesthose who are alive and the departed. Jesus speaks of going to hisFather's house to prepare a place for us. Jesus has done that, and iswaiting to welcome us to the place that he has already prepared forus. Meanwhile our task is to prepare for that great event andhomecoming, not by worrying about the details but by living life tothe full. Jesus helps us to do this by offering us, through theEucharist, the treasures of his truth at the table of the word, andthe treasures of his love at the table of his body and blood.

When we encounter Jesus at the end of life's journey, will we bemeeting a familiar figure and well-loved friend? Or will God be astranger at whose approach we shrink in fear? The answer lies in ourhands. God permits us to choose what that great final encounter willbe like. It is up to us.

PRAYER REQUESTSWe pray ...... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for theunborn.... for the strength, healing and speedy recovery of:- Damaso Guevara, Eligia Fernando, Sr. Belen Latorre, DC- Dennis Labayen and Mario Delariarte- Fr. Santos Mena, S.J.... for the personal intentions of Pe Family... Good health: Fred and Nel de Leon and family... In Thanksgiving: Jennette... for the eternal repose of the soul of Tolentino Abu Sandoval.Eternal rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him.May he and all the dearly departed rest in peace.... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.- In Memoriam (+): Estrella Yu Castillo- In Memoriam (+): Bertran Yu Lai (Sep 19, 1965 - Nov 24, 1996)... for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked ourprayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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